THE WILLIAMS LAKE TRIBUNE

Wednesday, February 11, 195

THE RAILROAD IS LOSING BUSINESS

When the Pacific Great Hastern’s $150,000,000
extension to the Peace River was completed, it was
expected to result in two things: the opening up of the
north country it traverses, and the securing of addi-
tional freight loads that would go far to putting the

basis.

With the PGE going along with other Canadian
railroads in granting a 17 percent pay increase to its
employees, and consequently hiking its freight rates,
there seems to be room for reasonable doubt that the
anticipated additional payloads for the railroad are
going to materialize.

There is an alternative method of transport into
the Peace, and the Prince George Citizen, commenting
on the question, offers the opinion that the Hart High-
way is obviously making it tough for the PGE.

Walter Burns, superintendent of the Experimental
Station at Prince George, told a meeting of agrolo-
gists in Vancouver recently that some Peace River
grain shippers prefer the highway route to the PGE
for the simple reason of cost.

The railway freight increase affected everything
but petroleum products, and the Citizen states that
when they asked the PGE the reason for this, they
were given to understand that the trucks were hold-
ing a club over the railway’s head.

If the railway forced a 17 percent increase on
petroleum products, the PGE would have to scrap its
tank trucks. It could not‘haye stood the competition
provided by tank trucks,

Almost the same circumstances apply to the situa-

tion which Mr. Burns described. He said he ordered
a“ carload ” of grain from Fort St. John and it arrived
in two big transport trucks. When he asked the grain
dealer why trucks were used, the merchant told him
it was cheaper that way.
: Comments the Citizen: “It’s time the PGE looked
into its freight rate set-up to find out why industries
that sat on pins and needles for years awaiting the
northern railway are suddenly changing their minds.
We think they were given the illusion that the PGE
would be the answer to most of their transportation
problems but are thankful the truckers stayed. around
after all.”

CHALLENGE IN SCHOOLS LACKING

In speaking to parents of high school students,
and to the students themselves, one is struck by the
fact that something is lacking—some quality that is
far removed from the too-eften and too-loosely tossed
SEER =chers and Students.” ‘ §
This lack is recognized by the British Columbia
- Chamber of Commerce in its brief to the Chant Royal

Commission on Education. The main theme of the
°y brief is “ the need for a better climate of education in
central problem of secondary education.”

What is needed, states the brief, is to devise an
environment in which young people will actively want
to learn, then the practical problems of discipline, use
of time, regard for school authority, and the applica-
tion of their courses of study to their personal growth
and acceptance of responsibility will tend to disappear.
However, the chamber also recognizes that creation of
such a climate is not the responsibility of school
authorities alone. Following this trend of thought,
the chamber feels that more public recognition of in-
tellectual and moral excellence, increased contact be-
tween teachers and parents, utilization of community
leaders in schools would help to relate formal educa-
tion to practical situations.

The brief places heavy emphasis on re-organization
of secondary school levels, so that student capacity
will be discovered earlier. Criticism of the elemen-
tary nature of the general science course at senior
high levels was coupled with a recommendation for a
better foundation in basic sciences,

The chamber makes the point that students with
a higher ability. be permitted and encouraged to ex-
tend and develop that ability. “It is not suggested,”
states the brief, “that the non-academic student be
discouraged and crowded out of the high schools by
being faced with studies beyond his capacity, we are
recommending that the academic student with the
capacity to learn rapidly should be given more intel-

“x, lectual exercise and not permitted to be bored with
x “lack of challenge.”

SPORT AND EDUCATION

—The Printed Word

A good deal of criticism is being directed at the

U.S.A. for having spent $40,000,000,000 in 1958 on

j recreation and only $14,000,000,000 on education. The

+ criticism is probably deserved, but it might also be

recalled that in their greatest period the Greeks used

little of their wealth for education, while concentrating

much on games. Socrates and Plato taught inexpens-

ively, mainly by chatting, with practically no equip-

ment. Aristotle mainly did the same, although he

~ invented the systems of keeping records, which led to

the paraphernalia of present-day schools. Although

the library at Alexandria maintained civilization in an

otherwise inferior period, nothing has been found in
education to surpass the conversation of sagas.

It is probably a waste of time to complain about
expenditures on recreation. With the Greeks, sport
was a religion. Pindar based his entire Poetry, not
only on the Olympic games, but on the glorification
of the winners. Sitting most of Saturday afternoon
and evening watching games on TV and then putting
in some of Monday reading and details and comments
in the newspapers is a strange way to live, but these
rites have been performed in one way or another by
humanity for several thousand years,

a

Sovernment-owned line on an even sounder economic»

tennis courts.

Looking back

along the trail

ONE YEAR AGO
February 12, 1958

Thomas Mart, who had been
a familiar figure in town and
district for almost 59 years,
Passed away in War Memorial
Hospital Frank Perry,
Prince George lawyer, was
named president of the Cariboo
Bar Association... A busi-
hess licence was issued to
Stedman’s 5e to $1 store...
Members of the Hospital
Auxiliary voted to purchase a
refrigerated milk dispensing

machine for the hospital at a.

cost of $250 .. . Mail service
to the Forest Grove area has
been increased from twice a
Week to three times a week.

FIVE YEARS AGO

J February 11, 1956 }
\ od tottedom addition to the
Williams Lake High school
will be the major building pro-
ject for this spring, at an esti-
mated cost of $66,000... The
unseasonable mild spell
prompted public works officials
to advertise notice of intention
to impose load restrictions...
Five members of the local Pon-
tiac juveniles have been named
to the Clinton All-Star team
that will take part in provin-
cial play-offs this spring . . .
Sunday's high was in the mia-
fifties, but Monday the mercury
Started sliding down to 10
above with a cold north wind

- - Commissioners have final
approval to the plans for a
village water system ... War
Memorial Hospital showed an
operating surplus of $1,786 for
1953.

TWENTY YEARS AGo
February 16, 1939

Louis LeBourdais, M.L.A. for
Cariboo, has been successful
in obtaining a raise on the
bounty on wolves from $10 to
$15... Mrs. English Decker,
believed to have been the
oldest woman on the Cariboo
Road, passed away after a
short illness. She leaves four
generations to mourn her pass-
ing... A short cut-off tele:
phone and telegraph line of 18
miles between Big Lake and
the mountain which will be
constructed in the spring will
ensure Likely-Keithley districts
a clear through connection to
the coast... A total of 50,643
cattle were shipped from Wil-
liams Lake in 1938, an increase
of 10,648 over the figure for
1957.

Oe
THE WILLIAMS LAKE
TRIBUNE

Established 1931

Editor: Clive Stangoe

Published every Wednesday at
Williams Lake, B.C., by the
Cariboo Press Limited.
Subscription per
Outside Canada

year $3.00
$4.00

Advertising raves on application

Authorized us Second Class
Mail by the Post Office

If you have Tesided in Williams
Lake for a number of years, you will
Tecognize the location of the town’s
Gone from the iand-

| EDITORIAL PAGE

AS IT USED TO LOOK

scape for some time, the two courts
were across Fourth Avenue from the
elementary school, near where the
softball diamond

is now located.

BY CLIVE STANGOR

Now that the Centennial issue is behind us, we
can give our full attention to worrying about mat-

ters of the present.

We know the pub-
lication of the issue
will have its reper.
cussions, since there
are some rather
Prominent gaps in
the story of the
Central Cariboo’s
development. We
have one consoling
thought about the
missing links though, and that
is the fact that we were
hardly swamped by volunteers.
Several times we age to

those with historical juga

dom. about, their sfamit to.
contact us—but over} the
months of preparation | only.
two came forward.
Ace 24
IN ANSWER to out query
about an ice ‘carnival | this

year, we have been infotmed
by one of the ladies of the
Arena Auxiliary that such a
show is indeed in the plan-
ning stage. Look for an an.
nouncement in the near future.
This ice show will probably be
held in April.
Kk ok

AMONG THE DUTIES of
the volunteer helpers at the
library is checking up on de-
linquent borrowers, and last

The McDuff
Report

FROM OTTAWA

The turbulent strike by CBC
Producers in Montreal has pro-
duced a strange political split
in all three parties. Both the
Liberal and ccr Parties have

sought to embarrass the gov-
ernment by pressing for its
“intervention,” but neither
have ‘taken a stand on the

issue. With a sharp diverg-
ence of opinion in its
ranks, the government has
been trying desperately to
keep the problem off its door-
step. In the Commons last
week, Hon. George Nowlan,
the minister through whom the
CBC reports to Parliament,
contended the producers ‘strike
Was illegal. On the same day
his colleague Leon Bal
Senior cabinet minister
Quebec, affirmea that it was a
legal matter.

own

Although the Trans-Canada
pipeline from Alberta to Mont-
real was only completed in re-
cent months, the company
already starting to give serious
consideration to building a sec-
ond line to eastern Canada
from Winnipeg. The demand
for natural gas in Canada has
so far exceeded anyone’s wild-
est dreams that in seven to 10
years the 30-inch line which
now stretches east from Winni-
peg may prove too small to
Provide the volume required
in Ontario and Quebec. A
first decision on building a see-
ond line will await a decision
On the export of Canadian gas
to the U.S.

Saturday two women
so engaged were get-
ting quite a kick out
of these books long
overdue. Among
them were “Inside
the Space Ships,” and

“We Live in Alas-
ka.”” Explanation
enough, one would

suppose, for a lapse
in returning’ them.

Ko RES ee

A, SALUTE from the Top
Railyin the*directio; rf Alsqon
eke thadager REE \Thibau
deau/who last Friday treated
the high school student body
to a showing of “Julius
Caesar,” and will be bringing
in a special program for the
students of the elementary
school next Monday.

His reason for the educa-
tional treat? He just wanted
“to do something for the
youngsters.”

* * *

AND A BRICKBAT to the
legal light who gave us a
wrong version of the resolution
on Stipendiary Magistrates
that came up at the recent
Cariboo Bar Association meet-
ing. We are now informed
that the perennial resolution
favoring legally trained per-
sons over those without these
advantages as candidates for
Posts in the lower courts
never even reached the floor.
Seems Paddy Colthurst from
Kamloops pointed out the
futility of it since it was now
established policy on the part
of the Attorney-General’s de-
partment that when vacancies
occur, legally trained persons
will be appointed “ when
available.”

LOOKS AT:

History—and the future

BY A. J. DRINKELL

The growth of the Cariboo in the past has been
a somewhat slow operation and not without what

may be termed “

The gold rush days
were ebbing to
close by 1910,
agriculture was an
established industry.
Many of the old
Pioneers were still
living and for
youngsters
from the
world with its many
social amenities, § -
Dublic services: and the like
to have been able to meet them
and mingle with them, even
briefly, has proved an unfor-
gettable episode and a source
of inspiration through succed-
ing years. At least, that is the
impression we got while listen-
ing to the boys reminisce at
our last hold-forth

It seems far more of those
Participating in the gold rush
failed to obtain that hoped for
fortune than ever succeeded.
Many of the disappointed: ones
turned to the soil as a means
Of livelihood but due to lack
of roads, i
could walk to market—was
the logical crop to raise. Wheat
farming in close proximity to
a grist mill was profitable
within limits. Pack trains
were still enjoying a measure
of employment. Ox teams were

disappearing from the Cariboo.

road and it was found neces-

sary to enact a law compelling

freight wagons to be equipped
with six-inch tires.

Watching a jerk-line team
Wending its way up a steep,
winding hill could hold one
spellbound. Twelve miles was
a fae day’s travel, hence the
pumerous' stépping _, houses

ae tne way. big
ASHCROFT THRIVES

Motor ‘trucks began Making
their appearance following the
first world war. They too had
their troubles. Ashcroft, as
gateway to the north, until the
advent of the PGE, was a
thriving community, All taail,
express and passenger traffic
was in the hands of the B.C.
Express Co. They
offered chartered trips, or
“specials,” as they were
called, over some of the side
Toads, a service patronized
largely by travelling salesmen,
fur buyers and such. ‘he
completion of the PGE to
Quesnel changed all that, al-
though motorized stages had
already superceded the coior~
ful horse-drawn coaches.

Most remote areas received
mail spasmodically, dependent
upon weather and road condi-
tions. There was no parcels
Post service. Urgently needed
goods came express.

The law enforcement was in
the hands of a constable
stationed in Clinton and two
in Ashcroft. Jack MeMillan
would ride forth from Clinton
Periodically to collect poll tax,
round up the miscreants and
generally keep the peace. He

WEEKLY BROWSINGS

PEARL FIND EXCITING
BUT WORTHLESS

“Why go pearl diving?"
asks the Chilliwack Progress.
Just have a feed of oysters
at The Peaks, it told its
readers.

In explanation, the story re-
lates that Jim Warne and
Ewart Lock were having a
plate of oysters at the cafe,
when Jim’s chompers came to
a sudden stop. Hasty examin-
ation revealed a real pearl
about half the size of a pea.

A Tush trip to the closest
jewellers disclosed the sad
news that the pearl was worth-
less. It had been cooked and
the lustre was gone.
ANOTHER FIND

And while on the subject of
valuable finds, the Williams
Lake Tribune says gold nug-
gets can still be found in the
vicinity of Wells in the north-
ern Cariboo.

Harry King, of Bridge Lake,
wondered whether prospecting
for gold in the Cariboo could
still turn up colors. It did,

By Jim Baugh
and as proof of the fact, Mr.
King has a gold nugget.
STUDENTS GET BIRD

We are indebted to Fernie
Free Press for the following
items. They, in turn, lifted
it from The Rotarian.

“Moisture dripped from the
eucalyptus trees, the skies
were grey and the ground was
damp where 15 college stud-
ents crouched, their attention
focussed on a young man, who
at regular intervals was giving
the plaintive hoot of an owl.

“Presently there came the
distant answering hoot, and
the bird-study class moved
cautiosly, then stopped as their
instructor hooted again.

“For some 20 minutes the
hooting and creeping forward
continued, while the answermg
hoots grew louder,

“ Quietly the class rounded
a hill.

“Instead of sighting their
quarry they came upon a young
man hooting mouratully, be-
hind him another group of cold
eager students.”

also ©

> ployment.

Those

¢ usually followed the
Fraser north from
Big Bar and returned
via the Cariboo Road.
Casper Phair would
sally forth annually
from Lillooet to re-
vise the assessment
and collect
Schools, hos-
pitals, telephones and
similar services were
Non Est, as the Frenchman
says,

The building of the PGE and
the conversion of the Cariboo
Trail into a super highway was
a long and exasperating opera-
tion rendered more sluggish by
two major wars and a serious
depression which also added
greatly to the di t Of the

Letter to the Editor

Thinks Mr. Speare _
slightly biased’ too

The \ Editor, Sees s
The Williams Lake Tribune. _

comment on a paragraph in the
column of William Speare,
M.L.A. for Cariboo, which ap-
peared in your last week's
issue. ~~ aes

Mr. Speare said: “The
Leader of the Opposition, be~
ginning debate for his party,
took up most of the day with
a political harangue.”

I heard the Opposition
Leader’s speech in the Legisla-
ture, too, and the time of his
speech was two hours. Is this
most of the day, Mr. Speare?

Mr. Speare goes on to say:
“He used the device of taking

excerpts from various reports.” _

This statement is a complete
misrepresentation of fact. Mr.
Strachan quoted only one re-
port. It was the Report of the
Mental Health Services. He
pointed out that at the 1958
Session, most of the depart-
mental reports were tabled in
the first few weeks, but the
Mental Health Report was not
tabled until the last day of the
Session, which prevented the
Legislature from discussing it.
It will be remembered that all
during the Session, the Pro-
vincial Secretary had denied
that Mental Health ‘Services

various governments endeay-
ouring to open up this vast
but sparsely populated area on
annual budgets of around $10
million.

OTHER SERVICES

Thanks to a most generous
Public Schools Act, education
is now available to all and the
incidence of illiteracy has dim-
inished almost to the vanishing
Point. Hospitals have sprung
up in various localities. Tele-
Phone service is within easy
Teach of most settled areas to-
day and while our secondary
Toads always seem to be
jump behind load demands
made upon them, they are
steadily being improved.

This astounding transforma-
tion, slow though it may have
.beens has not. beeq accom-

Aplisea — jwithoitt ~ Anaividual
effort and community sacri-
fices manfully undertaken, EX-
pressions of impatience were to
be expected, but understanding
and fortitude have been the
predominant assets. 5

Looking back along the
trail, we are assured the
ground work for a great future
has been well and truly per-
formed in this hinterland uf
our province. Our successors
may, temporarily, feel the
burden of debt somewhat irk-
Some, but their full heritage
is such that given judicious
utilization of the vast re-
sources now made accessible
to them, they may go forward
into the future With pride and
confidence,

had forated, but this re-
port, which Mr. Strachan
quoted from, confirmed that
the services were in a disgrace-
ful condition. Mr. Strachan
suggested that the Provincial
Secretary had deliberately
misled the Legislature by with-
holding the report. :

Mr. Speare continues: “ And
turning their meaning to suit
his (Mr. Strachan’s) political
purpose.” Is Mr. Speare so
naive as to think that the
Premier’s speeches in the
House, which Mr. Speare so
readily applauds, are not for
political purposes?

would suggest to Mr.
Speare that he re-read his col-
umn and in future take some
of the political bias ‘out of
them before he stands accused
of using them, in Mr. Speare’s
own words —
purposes.7? =

I would further suggest that
Mr. Speare should do a little
more homework and find out
what the duties of the Opposi-
tion in the Legislature are.
Then he would discover that
the Opposition’s duties and
Tights are to criticize govern-
ment policies and offer alter-
natives. Why did Mr. Speare
not mention the alternatives to
Government policy that Mr.
Strachan stated in his speech,
thereby letting the readers of
this newspaper adjudicate for
themselves? Are we to assume
that Mr. Speare believes this
Social Credit Government, like
Caesar's wife is beyond Te-
proach?

Ae

RON RILEY.
Victoria, B.c.

CARIBOO COMMENT

BY WILLIAM SPEARE
M.L.A.

The problem of feeding a
family and paying bills with
no pay cheque coming in is a
terrible worry for any man out
of work. None can deny the
demoralizing effect of unem-
This is an issue of
major importance and receives
the full attention of this gov-
ernment.

The cause of unemployment
and of labor in general was
Poorly served by the mass
demonstration witnessed in
Victoria this week. A Parade
and subsequent lobbying of
the members in the corridors
of your Parliament Building
was, well organized by “union
leaders with obvious Political
intent. This led to a govern-
ment member, stating on the
floor of the House, that union
leaders and the Opposition
party were using unemploy-
ment and the cause of labor for
Political gain.

My personal __ experience
causes me to support this view.
In this latest instance, groups
of from 10 to 15 workers were
assigned to each government
M.L.A. A printed question-
aire form was the main subject
of conversation, with answers
to weighted, double-meaning
questions their main concern.
Questions were of the “Have
you beating your

i whichever way
you answer being twisted and
used against the government,

For example, * Ary you in

favor of further restrictive

labor legislation?” implying
=~

that our labor legislation is
restricted.

A great deal was made of a

moratorium “on - all debt and
credit payment: eople out
of work. an ex-

ample of a proposal Dbrimarily
intended to be disruptive, with
Popular appeal but recognized
as unworkable event by those

who make it.

Nothing was
dangerous

tive.

A further Proposal called for
the — government to put
$5,000,000 into a@ works pro-
ject to relieve unemployment.
No mention,

tent than proposed. The hieh-
Way program for last year alone
Poured $90,000,000 into the
economice bloodstream of our
Province. Consider the pro-
vincial grants and guaranteeing
of bond issues which account
for the construction of hospi-
tals, sesools, university build-
ings, mental instituions, park
facilities, water supply systems,
Sewers, harbor facilities, etc.
Your government believes this
to be a positive method of
economic development and
Plans to continue at its high
Pace With consequent benefit to
the wage-earner and business
man.

ay
(foxy politiasL— fy